Patient advocacy, safety, critical thinking, quality care, and working in the best interest of the patient are all traits that encompass this nurse’s actions on a regular day. While not having a set clinical unit or set ‘line’ of patients, Sheena sees patients all over the facility for inpatient and outpatient procedures. Being a specialized procedure nurse for a regional facility, this person is pulled throughout the day for orders placed when providers round and for scheduled appointments. During the course of care, she provides an intensive investigation of needs, and reviews candidates for services/care, eligibility for treatment, and therapies. Communication with individuals, and next of kin to ensure understanding of need, procedure, and any associated risk is a normal process in her care. When performing her role, she recognizes the limitations of her skills and seeks assistance as needed as well as having a great rapport with providers and team members to discuss care plans.

I frequently hear of her rounding to follow up on patients after a procedure to ensure good outcomes and tolerance of the procedure. She checks dressings for specialty lines and reviews invasive lines for any complications. In completing her reviews and follow-up, she has recently encountered several situations that could be categorized as Safety Catches but in reality, these were potential health events that could have altered the plan of care for patients. Examples of her attention to detail include noting when a patient ‘fell’ off the provider list for continued assessments, and noting when a PICC order was placed and the patient already had a preexisting PORT. She investigated the ability to utilize the PORT for the need and averted another invasive procedure. She has noted the incompatibility of medications ordered and alerted team members before the administration reached the patient and has noted changes in orders that team members may not have been aware of during EPIC upgrades. These are just examples of her critical thinking for the good of the patient she exhibits on a daily basis.

While these catches are not focused on one patient encounter or experience, her advocacy reaches many different service lines where she provides exceptional service and care. In acknowledging her diligence, her support of the patient, and her drive for quality, it is with great respect that I nominate her for the DAISY Award for outstanding nurses.